Regeneration compliance systems for location based management of particulate filter regeneration

Abstract

A regeneration compliance system is provided and includes navigation, regeneration, zone and timing modules. The navigation module determines a location of a vehicle. The regeneration module determines a state of a PF of an exhaust system of an engine of the vehicle and whether to regenerate the PF based on the state of the PF. The zone module, based on the location of the vehicle, determines whether the vehicle is in a regeneration permitted zone and where regeneration permitted and prohibited zones are located relative to the vehicle. The timing module estimates time to a next regeneration permitted zone or an amount of time remaining in a current regeneration permitted zone. The regeneration module controls when the PF is regenerated based on (i) the state of the PF, and (ii) the time to the next regeneration permitted zone or the amount of time remaining in the current regeneration permitted zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A regeneration compliance system comprising:
 a navigation module configured to determine a location of a vehicle; 
 a regeneration module configured to (i) determine a state of a particulate filter of an exhaust system of an engine of the vehicle; and (ii) determine whether to regenerate the particulate filter based on the state of the particulate filter; 
 a zone module configured to, based on the location of the vehicle, determine (i) whether the vehicle is in one of a plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones, and (ii) where the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones and filter regeneration prohibited zones are located relative to the vehicle, wherein each of the filter regeneration permitted zones refers to a geographical area in which regeneration is permitted, and a filter regeneration prohibited zone refers to a geographical area in which regeneration is limited or prohibited due to emission regulations; and 
 a timing module configured to estimate at least one of (i) time to a next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones, or (ii) an amount of time remaining in a current one of the filter regeneration permitted zones, 
 wherein the regeneration module is configured to control when the particulate filter is regenerated based on (i) the state of the particulate filter, and (ii) at least one of the time to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones or the amount of time remaining in the current one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones. 
 
     
     
       2. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the zone module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is on a paved or regeneration permitted surface; and 
 the regeneration module is configured to regenerate the particulate filter when the vehicle is on a paved or regeneration permitted surface. 
 
     
     
       3. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 1 , wherein the navigation module is configured to perform navigation operations to direct the vehicle to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones in response to the regeneration module determining the particulate filter is due for regeneration. 
     
     
       4. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 1 , further comprising an autonomous control module configured to control operation of the vehicle to drive the vehicle to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones for regeneration of the particulate filter. 
     
     
       5. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the zone module is configured to determine whether there is one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones along a current route of the vehicle; and 
 the navigation module is configured to perform navigation operations to direct the vehicle to follow the current route if (i) there is one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones along the current route, and (ii) regeneration of the particulate filter is completed in a predetermined period of time without a parameter of the particulate filter exceeding a predetermined limit. 
 
     
     
       6. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 5 , wherein the parameter is a fill percentage of the particulate filter or a pressure differential across the particulate filter. 
     
     
       7. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 5 , wherein the navigation module is configured to (i) determine a new route for the vehicle if regeneration of the particulate filter cannot be completed along the current route within the predetermined period of time, wherein the new route has one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones, and (ii) perform operations to direct the vehicle along the new route. 
     
     
       8. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 7 , further comprising an autonomous control module configured to control operation of the vehicle to drive along the new route. 
     
     
       9. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the timing module, in estimating the time to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones, estimates mileage to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones; and 
 the regeneration module controls when the particulate filter is regenerated based on the mileage to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones. 
 
     
     
       10. The regeneration compliance system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the global positioning system receiver; and 
 sensors configured to determine parameters corresponding to a state of the particulate filter, 
 wherein the regeneration module is configured to determine the state of the particulate filter based on the parameters. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of controlling timing and location of regeneration of a particulate filter of an exhaust system of an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining a location of the vehicle; 
 determining a state of the particulate filter; 
 determining whether to regenerate the particulate filter based on the state of the particulate filter; 
 determining whether the vehicle is in one of a plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones based on the location of the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones refers to a geographical area in which regeneration is permitted; 
 determining where the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones and filter regeneration prohibited zones are located relative to the vehicle, wherein a filter regeneration prohibited zone refers to a geographical area in which regeneration is limited or prohibited due to emission regulations; 
 estimating at least one of (i) time to a next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones, or (ii) an amount of time remaining in a current one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones; and 
 controlling when the particulate filter is regenerated based on (i) the state of the particulate filter, and (ii) at least one of the time to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones or the amount of time remaining in the current one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining whether the vehicle is on a paved or regeneration permitted surface; and 
 regenerating the particulate filter when the vehicle is on a paved or regeneration permitted surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising performing navigation operations to direct the vehicle to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones in response to determining the particulate filter is due for regeneration. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising controlling operation of the vehicle to drive the vehicle to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones for regeneration of the particulate filter. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining whether there is one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones along a current route of the vehicle; and 
 performing navigation operations to direct the vehicle to follow the current route if (i) there is one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones along the current route, and (ii) regeneration of the particulate filter can be completed in a predetermined period of time without a parameter of the particulate filter exceeding a predetermined limit. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the parameter is a fill percentage of the particulate filter or a pressure differential across the particulate filter. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining a new route for the vehicle if regeneration of the particulate filter cannot be completed along the current route within the predetermined period of time, wherein the new route has one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones; and 
 performing operations to direct the vehicle along the new route. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising controlling operation of the vehicle to drive along the new route. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 while estimating the time to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones, estimating mileage to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones; and 
 controlling when the particulate filter is regenerated based on the mileage to the next one of the plurality of filter regeneration permitted zones. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining parameters corresponding to a state of the particulate filter; 
 determine the state of the particulate filter based on the parameters; 
 determining whether the vehicle is on a regeneration permitted surface; 
 performing a safety scan of an area surrounding the vehicle if the vehicle is on a regeneration permitted surface; 
 permitting regeneration of the particulate filter if a result of the safety scan indicates that the area is free of objects or fire hazards; and 
 preventing regeneration of the particulate filter if a result of the safety scan indicates that the area is not free of objects or fire hazards.